The Indianapolis journal., 1887-10-05

think the assembly of students in the City Tenn
/ pie, London, on Friday morning, Oct Is, 1886,
was the most remarkable. The rain descended
in torrents, yet nearly 3. 900 ministers. profess
| ors. students, and visitors thronged the build
| ing. College classes we're suspended; professors
and students crowded the same pew, and not a
| few venerable pastors had to be content with
/ camp stools in the aisIes of the church. Never
/ was Mr. Beecher more elevated in thought.
/ more eloquent in expression, more tender in
| feeling and never did l a multitude of
| earnest men more thoroughly excited with
Christian JOY when, in their name and at their
bidding, i, chairman of the meeting. offered
| Mr.. Beecher the right hand of fellowship in to-
| ken of thankfulness reverence and love. You
will not overlook the fact that all this spontane-
| Gus and enthusiastic homage was rendered to
MIR. Beecher by VINO had followed him
through his whole career. They knew him, his
ministry. his books, his public controversies, mis-
honors and his sorrows; they knew who had
stood by him, who had withdrawn from him,
who had slandered him. and who had trusted
him; and, knowing all, they recognized in him
not only an eloquent speaker and a powerful
thinker, but an able minister of the New Testa-
ment and loyal follower of the Son of God
Every man who knew Mr.. Beecher fixes his
attention upon incident, sermon,
prayer, speech, which best represents the
genius or the heart of the man. We make our
idols and join ourselves to them with affection
ate tenacity. Had I artist at command
could order pictures that gold would never buy.
l could say to the artist:
Paint Mr.. Beecher coming into the ante-room
of the Free-trade Hall, Manchester. in 1863; SOL
emn, dgnifed. like a prophet conscious of his
'burden"-eloquent in pathetic silence.
Paint him as have seen him at Peekskill-
Boscobel the blest-seated at the family alar
Sunday morning; reading. singing, praying,
then giving a fathers kiss to every guest-man.
woman and child.
thunder and lightning. with fury that would
have been fruitful of accident but that the
horses knew him and loved his generous
mastery.
Paint him in conversation, with all the April
variety Of his face, constant only in it's thought
fulness. Catch above all things the smile the
smile which began far away. dawn-like,
and broadened into summer morning. 0.
painter. let me charge thee to seize that spirit
smile.
Paint him. if thou canst paint comedy, in
many a rollicking mood. every look farce,
every tone An irony. every attitude a caricature,
laughing till the crimson tide flushed his shapely
head with omnous fulness; yet in all the hilar-
ity not one word Of bitterness, not one sting OF
spite.
But failing all these, would have thee gather
thy strength for one supreme effort; nay mira
Gle. Invoke all the ancestors of art and bid
them help thee. Paint the church in which he
worked let it be more shadow than geomet-
ric form; the Sunday benediction has been pro-
nounced; the sun has long retired; the white
haired pastor fingers that he may have extra
benediction through the medium of. music; his
eyes full OF tears two little children uncon-
sciously approach him, and stand quito near ne
turns he sees them, he lays hand on each
young head. then he kisses the wayfarers, and
with his hand upon them, the three walk away
together. one of them never to return.
Never to return Say of such: They shall
hunger more, neither thirst any more,
neither shall the sun light on them. nor any
heat; for the lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them. and lead them to living
fountains of water, and God hall wipe away all
tears from their eyes" The redeemed of the
Lord shall return and come with singing unto
Zion, aud everlasting joy shall be upon their
sorrow and signing shall fee away" Our santed
dead are alive evermore Death is swallowed MP
in victory-the grave is conquered-and heaven
comes to our thought with frlendlier familiarity.
This is more than sentiment; it is inspiration.
It is strength that can carry the load of life it
is enthusiasm that makes sorrow itself a sacra
holy vision
Not to dwarf Us by their stature.
To what bigness we may grow"
81 heard q great voice from heaven, saying.
Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord"
We know that such voice can be from heaven
only. for such music slumbers not in the harps
of earth. We need resurrection to complete
birth The resurrection is an instinct we'll
as doctrine. Birth without resurrection is
almost palpable cruelty. Then shall we say
this God began build, and not able to
finish! We need not argue Immortality; it is
enough to feel it. Death itself is the best
teacher of Immortality. It makes immortality
possible; it makes Immortality necessary.
When it comes upon man like Henry Ward
Beech6r We cannot Oelievo that 1t has ended the
shining of sucn genius, the ministry of such
love. the hopefulness of such aspiration. To-
day he is nearer us than ever he was before.
He has outsoared the shadow of our night
Envy and caiumny, and hate, and pain
And that unrest which men miscalled delight
Can touch him not, and torture not again"
Yet he is bere-a watcher, not a critic; here
to bless. not to rebuke; here to all the old
words of love with larger meanings; here to give
assurance that death is but the door-keeper of
heaven. l will not say that Henry Ward
Beecher is absent Do not see hm2 Do not
know those lamp-like eyes, shining with joy
above all words! Can 1 be mistaken to that
voice whose subdued thunder has often en-
chained and repaid my attention? Can there be
will speak to him. No impatient question to
heaven will ask. will say. Loved one. hus-
band father, pastor, friend-Henry-we will
soon-ouits soon, almost immediateiy-join
thee, and so shall be forever with the Lord.
DR.. Parker's eulogy is dedicated to President
Cleveland, and is prefeced by a letter from the
President, who speaks Of Mr. Beecher my
loved and honored friend" and also one from
Rt Hon. w. E. Gladstone, who had been asked
to unite in order to make the eulogy truly in
ternational affair There is also a postscript by
DIR. Parker in which he distinguishes between
his euloey of Mr. Beecher and agreement
with all his theological beliefs. The eulogy.
with accompanying letters and addendum. will
be at once printed in book form.
DIR. Parker in Beecher's Pulpit.
Brooklyn Special
The audience brstled with eagerness when
Mr.. Parker was escorted to the platform by
frosty Mr.. Halliday and sank slowly into Mr..
Beecher's chair He seemed to feel that he was